Nancy Flake Johnson
Major/Minor
Grad Year
Notable Affiliations
The Atlanta Urban League
Greek Affiliations
Business
The Atlanta Urban League was founded in 1920 as an affiliate of the National Urban League, to support African American families migrating from the rural communities of Georgia in unprecedented numbers to the vibrant industrialized city of Atlanta. It was the dawn of the industrial revolution and the 20th century, and Atlanta was a segregated city. These families were seeking opportunities and the Atlanta Urban League provided the much needed support to connect with employment, job training, housing, health care and education for their children. Ninety one years later, in the midst of the worst economic downturn many believe our nation has ever known, the Atlanta Urban League is just as relevant today, as it was in 1920. To more accurately reflect the region that it serves, the Atlanta Urban League changed its name to the Urban League of Greater Atlanta in January 2011. The agency works diligently to “Empower Communities and Change Lives!” Today, the League’s focus is preparing the workforce for careers in the 21st century and the new economy; raising the graduation rate among metro Atlanta students and preparing youth for college and careers; homeownership and wealth creation; entrepreneurship and small business growth; sustainable communities; and serving as an advocate for education, civic engagement and economic development and a voice for the underserved in our community. The National Urban League, founded in 1910 and headquartered in New York City, spearheads our nonprofit, nonpartisan, national community-based movement that has grown to 98 affiliates in 36 states and the District of Columbia across the country.
Howard University
With a passion and reputation for leadership in community and economic development, Nancy Flake Johnson returned to Atlanta in 2008 to become president/CEO of the Urban League of Greater Atlanta. Well-known across the country for her commitment and innovative approaches to education and advancing the black community through economic empowerment and urban development, Nancy quickly built partnerships in the public and private sectors throughout the metropolitan region to drive the Urban League’s impact on youth, adults and families through its initiatives and programs. Nancy has developed and steered her committed and qualified team at the Urban League to create successful programs that meet people where they are and guide them toward financial and economic empowerment. Program platforms benefit job seekers across the spectrum –unemployed and underemployed youth and young adults, professionals, former inmates re-entering society after incarceration, first-time homebuyers, and entrepreneurs, homeless or underemployed adults. In partnership with businesses and other nonprofit organizations, she has increased the League’s impact on housing, education, career focused training, business development and job opportunities in underrepresented communities. She serves on several boards and committees including the City of Atlanta Workforce Development Board, Co-Chair of the National Urban League Jobs Task Force, Every Student Succeeds Act Coalition, the Metropolitan Atlanta Rapid Transit Authority (MARTA) Atlanta Transit Expansion Advisory Committee and the Georgia Education Equity Coalition. Her advocacy for civil, education and economic rights has earned her numerous awards and honors: the Atlanta Business League selected her as one of the Most Influential Women of Atlanta for four consecutive years; the Howard University School of Business Distinguished Alumni Award in 2015 and in 2013, she was honored as a “Woman of Excellence” by the Atlanta Daily World Newspaper. Nancy earned her Bachelor of Business Administration degree with a concentration in Accounting from Howard University in Washington, D.C., and received a Master of Science in Taxation from DePaul University in Chicago. Before joining the leadership of the Urban League in Detroit in 2006, Nancy operated the Howard University Small Business Development Center in the University’s School of Business where she inaugurated innovative programs that elevated attention to diverse entrepreneurs and business leaders around the nation.
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